TREATY OF WAITANGI.

Otago Witness, Issue 3754, 23 February 1926, Page 15

TREATY OF WAITANGI.

HISTORY PF ORIGINAL. SAVED FROM FIRE. (From Oob Own Corbespondent.) AUCKLAND, February 18. Recent references to the Treaty of Waitangi have caused Mr G. E. Elliott, of Auckland, to convey to the Auckland Star some interesting facts regarding the original document which have been left on record by his grandfather, The latter writing in regard to the treaty explained that some of the separate sheets were printed in Sydney and others were in manuscript. These were sent d the different hapus of the separate tribes. Some of the chiefs could write, and others affixed their mark as an imitation of their particular tattoo on the face. Considering that the original treaty has been nibbled by rats the following paragraph written many years ago by Mr Elliot’s grandfater is significant: “I feel pretty sure that if, from any accident in the early days, thisdocument had been lost or destroyed the natives would never have been induced to sign another,” he writes* That it was once saved from such an accident the following will show. In 1841 the Government offices were in a fourroomed wooden cottage in Official Bay, Auckland, in which the Colonial Secretary, the Audit Office, Colonial Treasurer, and the Customs each had one room. There were four clerks in tire establishment, and Mr Elliot was in the Colonial Secretary’s office. Mr Elliot wrote as follows: “We were the Government in those prehistoric days. I was called “clerk of the records” and had charge, amongst other documents, of the Treaty ofWaitangi. It was kept in a small iron box with the seal of the colony. I was living in Raupo Whore, in Queen street, close to Shortland streev at the time (1841), when early one morning 1 observed a great body of smoke ascending from Official Bay. I ran to the top of Shortland street and found the Government offices were on fire. When I got to the building one end was in flames and I saw that nothing could save the place. I at once tied my handkerchief over my face, got the door open and rushed into the room which the Colonial Secretary occupied. I could not see for the smoke and the handkerchief both blinded and choked me. The room was small and I knew it so well I could put my hand on anything blindfolded. I at once went to the iron box, unlocked it and took out the Treaty of Waitangi and the seal of the colony, and ran out again. I subsequently fastened the different sheets of the treaty together and deposited it in the Colonial Secretary’s office.”